“You medical examiners are real odd,” Hanson said. “I figure a dead body smells like a dead body.”
“No, that’s something else. Vinegar,” Jenna said.
“Vinegar?” Skylar repeated.
Jenna looked up. “At least that’s what it smells like. Once I get the body back to the office I’ll be able to check.”
“Maybe he had fries,” Hanson added.
Skylar rolled her eyes and looked down at the body, this time however she noticed something. She hadn’t seen it before as his fingers were pushed into the sand but when Jenna moved him it revealed a ring. She dropped down and took a look at it. It was gold and black, and had a symbol on it that looked like nKA. “Guess our guy was part of a fraternity. You recognize this?” she asked Hanson. He shook his head. “Well get a snapshot of it and bag it as evidence. Oh and did anyone find a cell phone on him?”
“No, they probably stole that.”
“Hey!” Harvey yelled and Skylar jogged over to him.
“Looks like we have the murder weapon.” Miles was crouched down near a large cluster of shrubs and seagrass. It looked like a Smith & Wesson .38. Miles used his pen to push back the grass so they could get a better look at it.
“You manage to find anything else from his wallet?” Harvey asked.
“A few items but nothing with an address on it.”
Right then just as she was about to say something, someone screamed and Skylar twisted around to see a young girl, nineteen maybe early twenties, trying to get past one of the officers. She was dressed in a pair of cutoff shorts and a red bikini top. She couldn’t hear what the officer was saying but she told Harvey she was going to find out. Before walking over, Skylar slapped Miles on the back. “Good work, Miles.”
As she trudged over she soaked in the sights. Farther down the beach she saw several people out walking their dog, and boats bobbing along the water. The sun was high in the sky and the water glistening. She really wanted to be out there instead of stuck on a beach with a corpse but this was her life now. Skylar made her way over to Officer Chapman.
“It’s okay, Chapman, let me have a word.”
He backed up and Skylar let the girl slip under the tape. She was a mess, her mascara was running down her face and she was breathing heavily trying to catch her breath as she looked past Skylar. “It’s him, isn’t it? Matt?”
“You know him?”
“He’s my boyfriend. Was I mean.” She crumpled to the ground and Skylar crouched down holding her by the arms. “Friends of mine said he’d been drinking heavily last night.”
“You live nearby?”
“I’m from Carrabelle but no, we were just visiting for spring break.”
“Spring break? Aren’t you a little a far from Fort Lauderdale?”
“We wanted to do something different this year. Daytona and Fort Lauderdale have become way too busy. Gabriel said.”
“Gabriel?”
“A friend.”
“Okay, hold on a minute. What’s your name?”
She sucked in air quickly and Skylar told her to take a few deep slow breaths before she responded. “Iris Bowman.”
“Were you with Matt last night?”
She scratched her head then ran a hand through her long blond hair. She was about five eleven, full lips, slender. And then that’s when it dawned on Skylar. She’d seen her before. “I vaguely remember but I had a lot to drink last night.”
“Hold on a minute, weren’t you on a boat this morning down at the Moorings?”
The girl looked up at her and her eyes widened. “You were the one who gave us coffee.”
Skylar had to hold back a laugh at the memory of hearing them all throw up. Before she could get argumentative or start accusing her, she told her that Matt’s body was going to be taken down to the medical examiner’s office and Reznik would escort her to the department so they could discuss this further. But before she went, Skylar had one last question. “Where do Matt’s parents live? We need to notify his next of kin.”
“Crawfordville. I can give you the address.”
Skylar turned and called over Reznik who appeared to be cracking some joke. The guy was a nightmare. They’d already locked heads a few times since her arrival and between dealing with him or Hanson she would take Hanson any day of the week. It was Reznik’s attitude. It was all to do with the persona that he tried to convey, the one of him being a badass Delta Force operator. The reality was he’d only done four years in the military before he got a medical release for an injury. He played it up whenever he could and would tell anyone who cared to listen about taking on twenty insurgents in Fallujah but it was all bull crap. He jogged over and when he saw Skylar notice he went back to limping. It was all an act. Why on earth he tried to keep it going for so long was anyone’s guess but she notched it up to some kind of mental illness or need for attention.
“Yeah?”
“Can you take Ms. Bowman back to the department? I have to go speak with the witnesses and then notify the parents.”
“Why me?” he asked.
“Because Harvey is coming with me and we need someone here to keep an eye on the body until Jenna is finished up.”
“Carrabelle officers can handle it.”
“Reznik, just do it, okay?”
He scowled and gestured to Iris to follow him. Skylar rose to her feet placing both hands on her hips, she rocked her head back and took a deep breath before walking back to Hanson to have him point out where the witnesses were.
Before she got near him Harvey cut her off.
“Who’s the girl?” he asked referring to Iris.
“The girlfriend.”
“She know anything?”
“If she does she isn’t saying,” Skylar said. “I think I had coffee with her pals this morning.”
Harvey shook his head as they continued walking. He fell in step. “You want to run that by me again? Coffee?”
She stopped for a second and looked at him. “There was a group of frat boys on a boat near mine listening to loud music. It’s a long story but let’s just say Donnie’s coffee came in real handy. It calmed them all down.”
“Please tell me you didn’t give them the bucket.”
“Close but no. However it was one of Donnie’s special brews and it worked like magic.”
“Great. So I’m guessing you’ll be dealing with a civil lawsuit by next week.”
She chuckled. “Harvey, you worry too much. Are you sure you’re still taking those meds of yours?”
Before he could reply they approached the body and Jenna stood to her feet. “I should have the preliminary autopsy wrapped up in about three to four hours.”
“Sounds fine. We have to wait for prints off the gun and I need to go speak with his parents.”
“So you got an address?” Hanson said, stepping over the body.
“We got more than that. Matt was down here on spring break.”
Hanson frowned. “But that’s usually down in…”
“Fort Lauderdale. I know.”
“Dear me,” Harvey muttered placing a hand on his forehead. “I hope they aren’t thinking of starting a new tradition of coming to Carrabelle each year. That’s the last thing we need. We already have our fair share of drunks. By the way, did she say if she’s studying at the university as well?”
“We’ll find out later. She’s being taken down to the department, perhaps you might want to interview her while I head out to Crawfordville to speak to his parents.”
“And leave you alone with them? I think not,” Harvey said.
“Have a little faith, Harvey.”
Hanson nudged Skylar. “Oh don’t worry, Reid, Baker doesn’t trust anyone. Ain’t that right, Baker?”
“Well maybe if people didn’t make decisions behind my back perhaps there wouldn’t be an issue.”
Hanson straightened up to him. “You got a problem, Baker?”
Harvey scoffed and shook his head. “Anyway, back t
o sensible talk. The reason I wanted to know was because I’m keen to find out how she managed to fund her tuition.”
“What?” Hanson asked, confused and slightly caught off-guard.
Harvey waved him off. “Just thinking out loud.”
Skylar raised an eyebrow. “He tends to do that a lot. Hanson, you want to point us in the direction of the couple who found the body?”
“Yeah. Over there. Tracey White and Logan Matthews. And Skylar, go easy on them, they are still shook up.”
Chapter 4
The conversation with the young couple didn’t yield much. A quick phone call home to their parents and it was confirmed they had traveled down to Florida to spend some time together. According to them there was no one else on the beach when they arrived that morning, and they called the cops immediately. Harvey took down their details and told them they would be in touch if they had any further questions.
“What do you think?” Harvey asked as Skylar soaked in the sun.
“I think I need a vacation,” she replied.
“You and me both. Time to to notify the next of kin.”
Crawfordville was forty-five minutes northeast of Carrabelle in Wakulla County. The only thing notable about the region was it was home to St. Marks Powder, a company that manufactured ball propellant. To get there they traveled via the Big Bend Scenic Byway, a journey that cut through the heart of Ochlockonee River State Park.
“So what was the deal with Jenna? Let me guess, she didn’t know what neon lipstick to use today?” Harvey said in jest as he glanced out the window.
Skylar was trying to get some shut-eye on the way as she hadn’t slept well and the warmth of the day was making her eyelids feel heavy.
“Actually she’s having relationship problems.”
“Don’t we all,” he replied.
“How well do you know her?” Skylark asked.
Harvey shot her a sideways glance. “Jenna?” He sniffed. “She’s local to the area. Beyond her odd fashion sense, I’ve always thought of her as a hard-working woman, why?”
“You ever met her boyfriend?” Skylar asked.
“She dating?” Harvey asked.
“Why’s that surprise you?”
He looked at her.
Skylar smiled. “Okay I admit she’s a little quirky but some guys go for that.”
Harvey nodded. “Which reminds me, did you ever find out who gave you that Valentine’s card?”
“Nope and quite frankly I’d rather not know. Any man who gives a card anonymously and then doesn’t follow up isn’t worth my time.”
Harvey laughed as she veered the truck around the winding road that was hedged in on either side by pine and cypress trees. “Please, with that attitude you are going to wind up a lonely old woman.”
“Why? Because I prefer a man to be direct?”
“Who said it’s a man?” he asked then started laughing. “For all you know it could be Barb.”
Skylar slapped him on the arm playfully. “Seriously, Harvey, your obsession with Barb is bordering upon creepy.”
“I’ll have you know I’m a happily married man.”
“Uh-huh, and what does Elizabeth make of you spending all your free time down at the Carrabelle Junction?”
“I don’t spend all my time there.”
“A good portion,” Skylar said.
“I like to support local businesses.”
“Is that so? Then why haven’t you dropped in to the Vagabond?” Before she let him answer she continued. “Because your allegiance is to Barb.”
“And that’s wrong? The Junction was there long before Vagabond and believe me, it will be there long after Vagabond closes.”
“Closes? Do you know something I don’t?”
He looked away and focused on the road ahead.
“Harvey?”
“All right. Barb has started a petition to get the city officials to close Vagabond.”
“Are you serious?”
“No but Barb is.”
“Well best of luck with that. There are tons of people who love Vagabond.”
“Exactly. That’s why she wants it shut down. Although I don’t think she mentioned that in her letter to the mayor.”
Skylar mulled it over. “I don’t get her. I mean, there is plenty of room in the town for both stores. It’s not like she’s losing business. Vagabond caters to those on the water, and Barb handles those in town. Besides with die-hard locals like yourself, it’s not like Donnie is stealing business. There is more than enough room for both.”
“Tell her that. She’s managed to rally up a thousand signatures so far. Almost a third of the town’s population. At the rate she’s going I think she might stand a chance.”
Skylar scoffed. “I doubt it. What reason does she have to shut him down?”
“Discrimination.”
“Discrimination?” Skylar laughed. “Please, she hasn’t got a leg to stand on, and besides, does she know that the mayor gets her coffee from there?”
Harvey raised an eyebrow, and Skylar gave a nod. “She doesn’t stand a chance.”
He quieted down as they veered onto Mulberry Crescent, and made their way around to the Carr residence. There wasn’t anything glamorous about the homes on that street, they were the typical single-story red-brick home with brown shingles, an attached one-car garage, and a small driveway. The home was pushed back from the road and nestled into the woodland. There was a basketball net just above the garage and a large blue Ford truck out front. The grass in the front yard was overgrown and the flowerbed full of weeds as if no one had tended to it in a long time. There were a couple of stone ornaments of deer out front.
Harvey pulled into the driveway behind the truck and they sat there for a second with the engine idling. “God, I hate doing these,” he said. “When I retire this is one thing I won’t miss.”
“You still got your eyes on retirement?”
“Every damn day.”
“So what’s stopping you?”
“College,” he muttered getting out of the truck and leaving her wondering what the hell he was going on about. They crossed the yard following the path around to the door. Skylar glanced at a no soliciting sign hanging on the door. Harvey rang the doorbell and they took a few steps back. From inside there was the sound of shuffling then the door opened. The woman looked cheerful which only made it that much worse. The woman was in her late fifties, green eyes, dark hair pulled back hard, healthy looking and slender. She opened the door wide and glanced past them towards the unmarked truck. She must have thought they were Jehovah’s Witnesses as she pointed to the sign on her door then narrowed her eyes.
“Oh, we’re not looking to sell anything,” Skylar said pulling out her badge. “Ma’am, we’re from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Could we step inside and talk with you about Matt? Are you his mother?”
She nodded. “Matt? Is he in trouble?” She groaned. “I told him not to smoke marijuana.”
“He’s not in trouble, ma’am. It’s probably best if we step inside and…” Skylar trailed off and gestured for them to enter. The mother waved them in.
Inside it smelled like brewed coffee. From the rear of the house someone called out, “Who is it, dear?”
“The Sheriff’s Office.”
“What?”
A large man with a paunch of a belly emerged from farther down and off to the right. He was holding a newspaper in one hand, and spectacles in the other. He had a round face, a full head of gray hair and he walked on the edge of his feet as if his legs were about to buckle from his weight.
Every family member reacted differently to hearing a loved one was dead; some would collapse under stress, others would wobble, some would cry hard and some would have no outward reaction at all. But that was normal because everyone processed loss and grief in different ways. They were led into a living room down the hall. Inside it was surprisingly different compared to their yard. Often if a yard was in a state so would the h
ouse be but not in this case. It was immaculate. There was a tapestry area rug in the center of the living room below a glass table that had a bowl of fruit in the middle. There was cream-colored furniture on either side of the room and matching décor to give it a beach home look. It was relaxing and peaceful. The steady hum of the air conditioning and a ticking clock were the only noises. On the mantelpiece above a fireplace at the far side of the room were framed photos of the family from happier times. Matt beamed beside his father.
They were guided to the couch and took a seat.
“What’s this about?” the male asked.
“You’re his father?”
“That’s right.”
“Well Mr. and Mrs. Carr, I’m sorry to inform you but your son was found deceased this morning at Alligator Point Beach.”
They looked at each other, shock taking over, then Mrs. Carr broke down. It was like her world caved in, she dropped her head into her hands and began to sob hard while his father just looked numb. Skylar leaned forward and took out several tissues from a box on the table and handed them to her. She took them and wailed, her body shaking. “Oh God!”
“Mr. Carr,” Skylar said.
“Raymond. Call me Raymond.”
“Sure. Raymond, is there anyone we can call to be with you at this time?”
“My wife’s sister lives a few streets over. Um…” He looked at a loss for words as his brain was still processing the news. He got up and staggered a little and Harvey went to help him but he waved him off. He returned a minute later with a sheet of paper with names and phone numbers. He pointed to the name Lisa and gave Skylar the sheet. Harvey took it and stepped out to place the call while Raymond took a seat and wrapped an arm around his wife.
“What happened?” Raymond asked.
“We don’t know right now but we’re looking into it. I’m very sorry.” That only made Mrs. Carr cry harder. “His body was found this morning on the beach, he’d been attacked and shot, and from what we can tell he died last night.”
Skylar heard Raymond address his wife by the name Linda. She leaned forward and handed her the rest of the tissues as Linda grappled with the loss. She looked up at her, tears still streaking her cheeks. “Are you sure it’s him?”
Death Blow Page 3
